prospers in your hands; when converts fly as a cloud; when many are asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward; and one after another comes to you. with, "Sir, we would see Jesus?" Then you will feel all the joys of harvest; then you will think all your pains, in studying and preaching, infinitely over-paid; then you will know something of what the Apostle felt when he said, "For ye are our joy and our crown."

This is part of what I meant, when I said of the office you have undertaken, that it is the pleasantest work in the world. But those who are acquainted with our appointments, will wonder to hear me add, as another encouragement, that it is the most profitable and gainful employment. Not indeed in a lucrative view: you despise that—And it is well you do; for you never could have pitched upon a business by which there is so little to be got But no matter: the world's votaries have their re ward, and you shall have yours; and such as you shall be abundantly satisfied with. Take it in the words of the Apostle: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock: and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth, not away.' (1. Pet. v. 2.) If you be diligent and faithful in

prosper your endeawhen many shall rise and before an innu

the execution of the trust which is now committed to you, and if it please God to vours, what will be your joy, up and call you "blessed," merable company of angels, and the general assem.

bly and church of the first-born, shall proclaim, that it is to you, under God, they owe their seat in heaven; that it was under your preaching they were first awakened; and by your faithful counsel and seasonable reproofs they were trained up in a course of holy obedience, and, by God's blessing on your endeavours, were made meet to be partakers of an inheritance among the saints in light! -I say, what will be their gratitude, and your joy, in that world of raptures, where they that sow and they that reap shall rejoice together!

And now, brethren, what think ye of the scoffs and sneers, the reproaches and persecutions, of the world? You despise them all. You have got so high above them, that the most spiteful cannot reach you. It is no more than a dog's barking at the moon, or an arrow shot at the sun. You move on, in the sphere assigned you by Him who holdeth the stars in his right hand; you move on, distributing light and heat to the places you pass over, undisturbed by the commotions and tumults among the little ant-hills below.

Shall I close here?What, Sir! close here? Why there hath been nothing of a Charge yet. 'You have said, indeed, a great deal about what we may expect; but you have hardly told us any thing of what we are to do.'

Well, then, if you will have a Charge, I will give you a most excellent one of the Apostle Paul's to a young minister, as it is recorded in 2 Tim. iv. 1: I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of sea

son: reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things; endure afflictions: do the work of an evangelist: make full proof of thy ministry."

In the presence, and in the name, of that same God and Judge, I now address myself to you: and, that I may not go out of my depth, I shall keep as close as possible to my inspired guide, and do little more than briefly expatiate on those important rules just now.recited.

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The Apostle begins with "Preach the word;" and thereby intimates that preaching is an eminent part of ministerial duty. Read the account of the sacred officers, as it is given in Ephes. iv. 11, and you will see, by their very names, that the great end of their institution was instruction. There are those who think and speak meanly of the office, as if now that Christianity is planted and established, there were no more need of preaching; that every one may read his Bible, and learn his duty by himself, without a minister to teach him. It is true, men do not need to be called to the name of Christians; but surely, surely they need to be urged to the duties of Christianity, and let not their pride be hurt if I add) to be instructed in them too. Where is the wise, where is the scribe, where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the

foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Cor. i. 20.) So said an Apostle: and in those few words he hath said more to recommend preaching than all the wits and scoffers of this age, or of any age, can say to disparage it. Let who will, then, despise prophesying; remember that it is your duty to preach the word." And to do it aright; to bring forth, Sabbath after Sabbath, things worthy of God and profitable to your hearers, requires great judgment and application. The Apostle's advice is, "Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," the pure, plain, word of God. (2 Tim. ii. 15.) Let your sermons abound with references to those oracles of truth, and, for the sake of those few who keep up the good old custom of carrying bibles to church, quote chapter and verse.

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season."I need not caution you against taking this too literally, as if the Apostle enjoined what was absolutely inconvenient and improper: he only means, that we should preach the word whenever we well can, even at those times which are liable to more objections, or attended with greater difficulties and discouragements, than common. Ah! if we ask the world, or confer only with flesh and blood, they will tell us that preaching is almost always out of season. But we have a better rule to go by. On the Lord's-day there is no doubt but preaching is in season: the time itself is holy; and the world being out of people's hands, we may hope it is out of their heads too; and that the concerns of their souls, and eternity will be better

attended to; we should therefore make the best provision we can for their instruction. So when there is an uncommon forwardness in people to hear the word; when they resort in great numbers to the house of God; when "the fields are white already to harvest," and they seem eager to press into the kingdom of God: this is a golden opportunity, and should by no means be let slip.I need not exhort you to be instant then it is impossible to help it. There is something so animating in the sight of a large company met together, with a serious concern upon their countenances as if they should say, "Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things which are commanded thee of God." I say, there is something so animating in this, that you will feel yourselves constrained to preach to them.

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But, then, we are not to count upon the continuance of such seasons. The tide may turn ; people may grow weary of attending, and forsake the as sembling of themselves together: the seats may be almost empty, when your heads and hearts are fullest. This is a strong temptation to give over preaching. But it must not be listened to. "Wherever two or three are met together” in Christ's name, he hath promised to be with them yea, he did not think much of preaching to a single woman; and shall ministers grudge their attendance because their auditory is small? No; preach the word, be instant in season; and out of season. Uncomfortable as it may seem now, it will yield joyous reflections hereafter, to be able to adopt the words of that greatest and best of preachers; "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: